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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rock — a stone
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. prune — to trim
  7. press — newspapers
  8. stand — to bear
  9. rock — music
  10. lean — to bend
  11. lean — thin
  12. rush — hurry
  13. stock — shares
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. stock — goods
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. prune — to trim
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. press — a publisher
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. press — to push
  24. stand — for spectators

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com